Display stand



July 25, 1961 M. A. SULLIVAN DISPLAY STAND Filed May 12, 1959 INVENTOR MATTHEW A. SULLIVAN BY H.

ATTORNEY United States Patent p 2,993,604 DISPLAY STAND Matthew A. Sullivan, 2300 Stratford Ave., Willow Grove, Pa. Filed May '12, 1959, Ser. No. 812,726 7 Claims. (Cl. 211-169) The present invention relates to a display stand, and more particularly to a display stand which can be easily assembled in various sizes and arrangements.

In a window or other type of display, it is often necessary to use various styles and sizes of display stands to display various types of merchandise. Also, it is common practice to change such display periodically so as to display difierent types of merchandise. Therefore, it is necessary for a merchant to have a largevariety of sizes and styles of display stands at considerable expense to the merchant. Also, the necessity for having a large variety of sizes and styles of display stands creates a problem with regard to storing the display stands which are not in use. In addition, such display stands are normally made of metal so that they are heavy and difficult to handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel display stand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display stand which can be easily assembled in various sizes and arrangements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display stand which is light in weight, and easy to handle.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled display stand of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of one of the blocks of the display stand of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of assembling the blocks of the display stand of the present invention.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1, the display stand of the present invention is generally designated as 10. Display stand comprises a plurality of rectangular or square blocks 12 secured together in substantially a checkerboard arrangement.

Each of the blocks 12 is made of a plastic material, preferably a foam plastic, such as foam polystyrene, poly- 'vinylchloride, or polyurethane. As shown in FIGURE 2,

each of the blocks 12 comprises a square rim 14 the trans Verse thickness of which is substantially less than the width and height of the rim 14. The center of the block 12 within the rim 14 is cut out to provide a web 16 in the form of an artistic design. However, if desired, the center of the block 12 within the rim 14 may be solid. Block 12 is provided with a pair of parallel holes 18 which extend longitudinally through opposed legs of the rim 14. Each of the holes 18 is preferably positioned on a line which bisects the angle between the back surface of the rim 14, and the outer side of the rim 14 which is parallel to and adjacent the hole 18.

The blocks 12 are assembled together to form the display stand 10 by means of elongated, wooden rods 20. Rods 20 are of a diameter equal to the diameter of the holes 18 in the blocks 12, and are of a length equal to the desired height of the display stand 10.

To form the display stand 10 shown in FIGURE 1, three blocks 12a, 12b and 120 are positioned upright with the holes 18 of the blocks being vertical. The blocks 12a, 12b, and 12c are arranged in a horizontal row, and spaced Patented July 25, 1961 from each other. A block 12d is placed across the space between the blocks 12a and 12b and positioned so that one of the holes 18 in the block 12d is in vertical alignment with a hole 18 in the block 12a, and the other hole 18 in the block 12d is in vertical alignment with a hole 18 in the block 12b. A block 122 is similarly positioned over the blocks 12b and 120, with each of the holes 18 in the block 12e being in vertical alignment with a hole 18 in the blocks 12b and 120. A separate rod 20 is inserted through each pair of aligned holes 18 so as to secure the blocks together. The remaining blocks 12 are mounted on the rods 20 to complete the display stand 10. Thus, the blocks 12 are arranged in horizontal and vertical rows with the blocks 12 in each row being spaced apart by the blocks 12 in an intermediate row. The display stand 10 can be made of any desired width and height by assembling the proper number of blocks 12 in each row. The rods 26 used to assemble the blocks 12 should be long enough to project at least part way through the blocks 12 in the uppermost horizontal row of the blocks 12, but not long enough to project beyond the top edge of the uppermost blocks 12.

To support the display stand 10 vertically, the end blocks 12a and 12c in the bottom horizontal row of the blocks 12 are positioned at an angle with respect to the block 12b, with the blocks 12a and extending forwardly from the display stand 10. The angled position of the end blocks 12a and 120 not only provides the vertical support for the display stand 10, but also permits a shelf 22 to be supported across the display stand 10 on the top edges of the blocks 12a and 120, upon which shelf 22 merchandise to be display can be placed. By positioning the end blocks of other horizontal rows, such as the blocks 12 and 12g, so that they extend forwardly from the display stand 10 additional shelves can be supported on the display stand 10. Also, since the blocks 12 are made of a foam plastic, small advertising signs, and certain types of merchandise can be pinned directly to the blocks 12. Thus, the display stand 10 can be provided with shelves for holding the merchandise to be displayed, or the merchandise can be pinned directly to the display stand 10.

To secure the blocks 12 at any desired angular position with respect to each other, retainer clips 24 can be placed between the overlapping edges of the blocks 12. As shown in FIGURE 3, retainer clip 24 comprises a square, sheetmetal disc having a central hole 26 therethrough. One pair of diametrically opposed corners of the clip 24 are bent downwardly at right angles to the clip 24 to provide the prongs 28. The other pair of diametrically opposed corners of the clip 24 are bent upwardly at right angles to the clip 24 to provide the prongs 30. The clip 24 is placed on the rod 20 between two of the blocks 12. The clip 24 is pressed downwardly against the top edge of the lower of the blocks 12 so that the downwardly extending prongs 28 of the clip 24 bite into the lower block 12. The upper block 12 is then positioned with respect to the lower block 12, and pressed downwardly against the lower block 12 over the clip 24. The upwardly extending prongs 30 of the clip 24 bite into the upper block 12 to secure the upper block 12 against relative movement with respect to the lower block 12. Thus, the clip 24 prevents angular movement between the two adjacent blocks 12. By positioning the holes 18 in the blocks 12 on a line which bisects the back surface of the blocks and the side edges of the blocks, the juxtaposed surfaces of two overlapping blocks 12 will be fiush when the blocks 12 are at degrees and 90 degree with respect to each other.

Since the blocks 12 are made of foam plastic, they are light in weights, and therefore easy to handle. Also, when the display stand 10 is not in use, the blocks 12 can attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A display stand comprising a plurality of rectangular plastic blocks arranged in a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows with the blocks in each of the rows being spaced apart, each of said blocks overlapping a portion of at least one block in an adjacent row, each of said blocks having an elongated hole in an overlapped portion thereof, elongated cylindrical rods extending vertically through the holes in overlapped portions of the blocks to secure the blocks together, and means between said overlapping portions for preventing said blocks from pivoting with relation to one another.

2. A display stand in accordance with claim 1 in which each of the blocks is relatively thin as compared to the width and height of the block.

3. A display stand in accordance with claim 2 in which each of the blocks is made of foam plastic.

4. A display stand in accordance with claim 1 in which some of said blocks are positioned out of the plane of the remaining blocks, and a shelf extending over and freely resting on the top of those blocks positioned out of the plane of the remaining blocks.

5. A display stand in accordance with claim 1 in which each of the holes in the blocks is positioned on a line which bisects the angle between the back surface of the block and the side edge of the block adjacent said hole.

6. A display stand comprising a plurality of square plastic blocks arranged in a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows with the blocks in each of the rows being spaced apart, each of said blocks having a square rim with at least one vertical leg of the rim overlapping a vertical leg of the rim of a block in an adjacent row, elongated cylindrical rods extending longitudinally through the overlapping vertical legs of the blocks to secure the blocks together, and means for preventing said blocks from pivoting with relation to one another including a separate sheetmetal retaining clip between each pair of overlapping blocks, each of said clips having at least one prong biting into one of said overlapping blocks and at least one prong biting into the other said overlapping blocks to prevent angular movement between said overlapping blocks.

7. A display stand in accordance with claim 6 in which each of the clips has a hole therethrough through which a rod extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 184,463 Stone Feb. 17, 1959 2,064,056 Cookson Dec. 15, 1936 2,505,509 Varela Apr. 25, 1950 2,681,321 Stastny June 15, 1954 2,779,062 Stastny Ian. 29, 1957 2,830,660 Borger Apr. 15, 1958 2,917,188 Menin Dec. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 339,062 Great Britain of 1930 413,485 Italy of 1946 459,452 Great Britain of 1937 726,522 France of 1932 

